Venture capital fundraising has seen a slight slowdown in the first three quarters of 2017 when compared to the same period last year, according to a new special report from private equity data specialist Preqin.

However, first-time venture capital funds represent a larger proportion of total fundraising compared to last year. As at September 2017, first-time venture capital vehicles represented 31 percent of all venture capital funds closed, compared to 25 percent in the same period last year.

Additionally, the number of first-time funds in market has increased from 470 as at September 2016, to more than 590 in September 2017. Despite the many obstacles that emerging fund managers face, first-time venture capital funds of vintage 2010 or older have generated substantially higher median returns than vehicles run by experienced managers. In fact, first-time venture capital funds of all vintage years between 2006 and 2014, except for 2008 and 2009, have outperformed non-first-time funds.

Said Felice Egidio, Head of Venture Capital Products: "Launching a debut venture capital fund is a daunting prospect. In recent years the fundraising market has become increasingly crowded, and first-time fund managers are often competing with established firms which have built up their performance track record and can rely on pre-existing networks of investors.

"As such, debut fund managers have to be careful in how they position their fund's strategy and scope, as well as how they approach and market to investors. Many investors remain less receptive to first-time funds, concerned that without an established track record they cannot commit to a vehicle.

"However, there are indications that these reservations are being overcome, and that investors are warming to investing with emerging firms. This may be in part because first-time funds have consistently outperformed their experienced peers in almost every recent vintage year, offering investors outsized returns.

"The key challenge is in overcoming the legitimate concerns about the wide dispersal of performance, and convincing prospective investors to commit without requiring a previous track record."

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Venture capital fundraising has seen a slight slowdown in the first three quarters of 2017 when compared to the same period last year, according to a new special report from private equity data specialist Preqin.

However, first-time venture capital funds represent a larger proportion of total fundraising compared to last year. As at September 2017, first-time venture capital vehicles represented 31 percent of all venture capital funds closed, compared to 25 percent in the same period last year.

Additionally, the number of first-time funds in market has increased from 470 as at September 2016, to more than 590 in September 2017. Despite the many obstacles that emerging fund managers face, first-time venture capital funds of vintage 2010 or older have generated substantially higher median returns than vehicles run by experienced managers. In fact, first-time venture capital funds of all vintage years between 2006 and 2014, except for 2008 and 2009, have outperformed non-first-time funds.

Said Felice Egidio, Head of Venture Capital Products: "Launching a debut venture capital fund is a daunting prospect. In recent years the fundraising market has become increasingly crowded, and first-time fund managers are often competing with established firms which have built up their performance track record and can rely on pre-existing networks of investors.

"As such, debut fund managers have to be careful in how they position their fund's strategy and scope, as well as how they approach and market to investors. Many investors remain less receptive to first-time funds, concerned that without an established track record they cannot commit to a vehicle.

"However, there are indications that these reservations are being overcome, and that investors are warming to investing with emerging firms. This may be in part because first-time funds have consistently outperformed their experienced peers in almost every recent vintage year, offering investors outsized returns.

"The key challenge is in overcoming the legitimate concerns about the wide dispersal of performance, and convincing prospective investors to commit without requiring a previous track record."